Socket-wrench set



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Aug. 14, 192s.

SOCKET WRENCH SET Filed April 1, 1927 Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE E. WAKEFIELD, JOSEPH P. FLEMING, AND JOSEPH F. OLIVER, OF'WORCIES- TER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO WAKEFIELD ALL-STEEL WRENCH COMFANY,

INC., or WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS,

A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

SOCKET-WRENCH SET.

Application led April 1,

The present invention relates to socket wrench sets, comprising a plurality of sockets of graduated sizes and a common handle or shank, which is provided for use, selectively, with any one of said socketed members.

Our invention resides in the compact assemblage of such a set in a specially constructed holder or container, the latter being of simple and inexpensive construction, and adapted to prevent accidental displacement of the parts of theset while permitting them to be removed, when desired, with the utmost ease. y Further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, ink which- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the improved vholder with the wrench parts assembled therein. n

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the assembly. y

Fig. 3 is an end view of the device, as seen from the left in 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, showing a ratchetinor device capable of use with the socket mem ers of the set. l

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the diii'erent figures.

A socket wrench set of the type referred to provides, as is well known, avpluralityof similarly shaped socket members 1, 2, 8, 4,

5, 6, 7 and 8, graduated in size, and each having a nut or bolt-receiving socket, here shown as hexagonal inform', and adapted to fit a given size of nut or bolt, ranging from a large nut or bolt, for which the member 1 is provided, to a small nut or bolt, for which the member'8 is providedfntermediate sizes being taken care of by thesocket members 2 to 7 inclusive. These socket members are graduated not 'only as to diameter, but also as to depth, and each provides, in addition toits'socketed nut-engaging portion, a polygonal opening 9, all of the openings 9 being ofthe same size and shape, so as to be capable of operative engagement with the similarly shaped handle or shank member 10, common to all of said socket members. f j

As here shown, the openings 9 are hexag 1927. Serial No. 180,255.

onal and the handle member 10 is of hexagonal Section to lit all of said openings 9. Preferably, as shown in Fig. 1, one end of the shank or handle 10` is bent at right angles, as indicated at 11; either end of the handle can be inserted in any of thesocket members, depending upon whether the long portion or the short portion ot the handle is to be used as a lever arm. The present wrench set includes, in addition to the usual handle 10, a ratcheting device or handle 12 ot' ordinary construction, adapted for use selectively with any one of the socket members 1 to 8 inclusive of the set. As shown in Fig. 5, the member 12y provides a ratchet 13, which is operativelyengaged by a pawl 14, said ratchet 13 having a hexagonal opening therethrough for the entrance of a similarly shaped extension m'ember 15, whose end, like the ends of handle 10, is adaptedto be operatively engaged with any one of the socket members 1 to 8 inclusive. The extension member 15 provides at its opposite end a screw driver blade 16, so that the set also affords, when desired, a ratcheting screw driver.

According to the invention, we provide a shallow tray or holder 17, preferably made from a singleelongated piece of sheet metal,

whose longitudinal edges are bent up to provide parallel side walls 18, V18', and whose ends are bent up to provide one end wall 19 substantially the same height as the side ywalls 18, 18',v and another end wall 20 oi greater height. Along'the edgeV of end wall 19, the material of the tray has an extension which is curled over to forml an eyelet or hinge 21, for a purpose to ybe hereinafter described.

The tray 17 receives, longitudinally, the

bent handle member 10 laid fiatwise therein,

as shown in Fig. 1, with its edge against the `side wall 1S. Also said tray receives, transversely, the extension member 15, laid fiatwise on the bottom of said tray, preferably between the bent end 11 of handle 10V and the end wall 19.V Against the innerlong edge ofhandle 10 ispacked the ratcheting device 12, the latter 'seating edgewise Vofthe bottom of the tray, as shown in Fig. 1. The remaining area of the bottom of Said tray accommodates the socket members 1 to 8 inclusive, when laid in a row with their sides against, beams and their ends against that wall 18 which is farthest removed from the handle 10. In so disposing the socket members 1 to 8 inclusive, the largest member 1 is placed adjacent the high end wall 20 of the tray, with the sizes of the other socket members gradually decreasing toward the other end of the tray, so that the smallest member S is adjacent the short portion 1l of handle 10. y

In order to hold each socket member 1 to 8 inclusive against sidewise displacement on the bottom ot tray 17, the n'iaterial of said bottom is struck up to provide a plurality of trzmsverse upright tongues 22, 22, each of a height sullicient to project above a horizontal plane through the center or axis of the adjacent socket member. Thus each socket member is engaged snugly on its side by a stop or tongue adapted to prevent sidewise rolling along the bottom of the tray; and a similar tongue 23 is preferably struck up trom the bottom to provide a clip for holding the ratchet extension member 15 against the end wall 19 of the tray. In order to prevent endwise shifting of the several socket members 1 to S inclusive, away from side Wall 18 of thc tray, additional longitudinal tongues 2t, 2t are struck up from the material of the bottom, these tong'ues 2l, each being preferably of sutiicient length to span a pair of adjacent socket members, so as to retain tiem against endwise movement. As shown in Fig. l, the ratcheting member 12 bears against the tongues 24 on the opposite sides of said tongues from the socket members 1 to 8 inclusive, and in order to prevent shitting ot said ratcheting member 12 from this position, it is desirable, though not necessary` to strike up additional tongues 25 and 2G for engagement with the opposite surface of said ratcheting member 12, the last named tongue 2G also engaging the handle member l0, to

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clip it firmly against the side wall 18 of the tray. Another struck-up tongue 27, IFig. 1` 'may be provided to bear against the end of extension member 15, and thus it will be seen that all of the various parts ot the set are held .irmly against shifting movement on the bottom of the tray by tongues or clips that engage said parts and define the respective spaces reserved on the tray bottom for their receptionl Another tongue 28, Fig. 1, underlies the end of handle member 10. thereby to elevate said end from the tray bottom with the handle heldin an inclined position, lor a purpose to be hereinafter described.

A. resilient wirej29 is inserted through the eyelet or hinge portion 21 of end wall 19, and is bent substantially at right angles beyond each end of said hinged portion, so that one section 30 of said Wire Will overlie the socket members 1 to 8 inclusive, While the other section 31 of said wire Will overlie the handle member l0; both sections overlie the extension member 15 and the bent end 11 of handle 10. The section 30 runs the full length of the tray 17, and at its tree end is adapted to be entered in a laterally cxtending notch 32 of end wall 20, thereby to latch said wire in retainingr relation to all ot the socket members, while at the same time pressing the section 31 of said wire into contact with handle 10. Said section 31 has its lengthwise termination substantially at the point where, due to the elevation ot handle 10 by lug or tongue 2S, the upper surface ot said handle is substantially tiusb with the upper surface or edge of ratcheting device 12,-and at this point said section 3l is formed vwith a transverse bend 83, Fig. 1, so that a downward retaining pressure is exterted both on said handle 1() and on said ratchcting device 12.

In the position of parts shown, the hinged wire 29, bv its sections 30, 31 and 33, serves as an all-inclusive retaining device for the parts ot.' the socket wrench set, when the free end of section 8O is latched into the notch 32. To release the wrench set parts from the holdingdown pressure of the sections 30, 32 and 33, said tree end of section 3() is sprung out of the notch 32, and thrust upwardly, this serving to rock the entire wire 29 about the pivot provided by the eyelet or hinge 21, into a substantially upright position, thereby allowing the removal of any or all oi the 'parts contained in the tray 17.

IVe claim: 1

l. A tray o'r container for the `sidewiee reception on its bottom of a row of interchangeable socket members ot different lengths of a socket wrench set, with portions of thel material ot said bottom struck up from the plane thereof at dili'erent distances from one side Wall ot said tray, each such portion being ot sutiicient length to span a pair of adjacent socket members, thereby to confine said pair of socket members against said side wall.

2. A tray or container vl'or the sidewise reception on its bottom of a row of interchangeable socket members `ot a socket wrench set', and also for the @dgt-wise reception on'its bottom of a common handle and common ratcheting device for said members, a wire hinged to one end Vall of said tray, and providing two sections overlying the tray bottom, one section for substantial contact'. with all of said socket members. and the other section for contact with said handle member and ratchetingr device, and means projecting from the bottom of said tray to elevate said handle member, thereby to make. its upper surface flush with the edge of lsaid ratcheting device.

Dated March 30. 1927.

CLARENCE E. IVAKEFIELD. JOSEPH I?. FLEMING. JOSEPH F, OLIVER.

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